Old and New (Volume 11)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ...is high, and wood for fuel there is none. Burn corn then. We occasionally find the fact that corn has been burned for fuel in Iowa, mentioned as a most lamentable fact. We cannot so regard it. There is perhaps no vegetable product more admirably adapted for fuel, and there is certainly no way of obtaining so large an amount of excellent fuel from a given acreage so quickly as by sowing it to corn. It has a higher use, to be sure, but there is nothing in its nature that renders it sacreligious to burn it if it can be so employed to the best profit. If such a principle were to prevail there would be an end to digging clams for bait in order to catch fish for their oil. In the east we use black walnut for ornamental cabinet work. It should be outrageous to split it up for firewood at the west. And a society should be organized to put a stop to the practice of Texan drovers of killing cattle for their hides and leaving the carcasses to rot. As for the capital, that will not be lacking when once the western people resolve on engaging in manufactures. The eastern states believe in the future of the west. They have sent there some of the best of their citizens; they have invested there millions of their money. They have the same faith to-day. No wellconsidered and reasonably promising opportunity for investment in new industrial enterprises will be neglected. It may even be hoped that eastern manufacturers, so far from being jealous, or fearful that their monopoly may be taken away from them, will themselves aid in establishing new industries on the lakes and the western rivers. At any rate, there need be no fears of opposition until the matter has been tested. And with or without protection, the west possesses one advantage for manufacturing over the east, arisin...